The New York Mets (71-68) rebounded from a heartbreaking loss on Tuesday to beat the Washington Nationals (78-60) 8-4 on Wednesday afternoon at Nationals Park. (Box Score)

Pitching

Zack Wheeler (10-7, 4.33 ERA) was tasked with taking on a Nats lineup that crushed the team for seven runs in the ninth inning less than 15 hours prior.

He struggled against the Nats lineup in the early innings as they made him throw 76 pitches within the first three innings alone. Despite that high number of pitches and the fact that he gave up six hits and two walks, he limited the damage to only one run.

Wheeler rebounded by holding the Nats to one hit and no walks in the next two innings combined.

All-in-all, the 29-year-old struck out three Nats in five innings of one-run ball. He worked around seven hits and two walks on 101 pitches to pick up the win.

Jeurys Familia entered the game in the sixth inning and picked up where the Mets bullpen left off on Tuesday. He walked two runners before giving up a two-out RBI single to former Met Asdrubal Cabrera. He then gave up an RBI double to Anthony Rendon, which scored two runs to cut the Mets’ lead to 7-4. Luis Avilan was called in to replace Familia and promptly struck out Juan Soto to escape the inning.

Mickey Callaway decided to use Seth Lugo in the seventh inning with a 7-4 lead. As is usually the case with Lugo, he got the job done. Callaway then kept him in for the eighth and he turned in another shutout frame. Lugo limited the Nats to two hits and no walks on 26 pitches.

Justin Wilson came into the game in the ninth for a non-save situation. He also delivered a shutout frame to solidify the Mets’ win.

Offense

The Mets offense faced Anibal Sanchez (8-7, 4.11 ERA) to start the game.

Juan Lagares got the Mets going in the second inning with a solo home run to center field to tie things up at 1-1.

In his return to the lineup, Robinson Cano made his presence felt. After Michael Conforto hit a leadoff double in the fourth inning, Cano cranked a home run out to left-center field.

Pete Alonso extended the Mets’ lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning with a solo shot to left field.

The Mets scored for the third consecutive inning as Cano and J.D. Davis crossed the plate on an Amed Rosario single in the sixth. Davis scored and Rosario advanced to second as Victor Robles misplayed the ball in center. Jeff McNeil followed that up by driving in Rosario on an RBI single to put the Mets up 7-1.

Rosario led off the eighth with a single and quickly moved his way around the bases. He advanced to second after Brandon Nimmo reached base via a walk, and then stole third. McNeil then drove in Rosario with an RBI single to tack on an insurance run.

Cano led the offense as he went 3-for-3 with a walk, home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Wilson Ramos ended a game hitless for the first time since Aug. 2 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. His hitting streak ended at 26 which tied David Wright for the second-longest in franchise history.

On Deck

The Mets will get a day of rest on Thursday before returning home to host the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game set. Steven Matz (9-8, 4.04 ERA) will take the mound on Friday for the Mets, while Zach Eflin (8-11, 4.33 ERA) will do the same for the Phillies. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EDT with game coverage on SNY, WCBS 880 and ESPN Deportes 1050.